[Steve+Dee]

We're hoping to move to Nelson soon and have been checking out the rentals in the area. As we all know every place large or small has it's elements of bother and certain "iffy" areas that you wouldn't feel safe at night. So the question to anyone that lives in Nelson would be are there any areas or districts that you wouldn't recommend and why?

We've done as much research on the area as we can from the UK but there's nothing to beat first hand experience so any help would be much appreciated.

Steve+Dee

[Philip10]

Hi I had a Kiwi Girl friend that came from Nelson, so I spent about 3 weeks there a few years ago, a great place to live, I loved it. I did not see any "iffy" areas compared with where I live Hackney, London.

Philip

[Steve+Dee]

Hi I had a Kiwi Girl friend that came from Nelson, so I spent about 3 weeks there a few years ago, a great place to live, I loved it. I did not see any "iffy" areas compared with where I live Hackney, London.

Philip

Cheers Philip, Nelson sounds good :nice1

[thezorbster]

Hi

We live about 40mins out of Nelson. Most areas of the City seem pretty OK but there are some areas around the hospital which I would say are less desirable. Toi Toi is the main area that I would avoid. There seemed to be a spate of crimes reported in the local press when we first arrived and a lot of them seemed to be around that area. Not major crime but it seemed to stand out and driving around the area it does seem a bit more rundown.

Try asking the KiwiBarkers who have just been on the house search themselves and have ended up living in Atawhai, a suburb just outside Nelson itself. They probably got a reasonable feel for any 'bad' areas. Are you set on Nelson city itself as there are some nice villages around or towns like Richmond.

If there's anymore info you need don't hesitate to ask and good luck with the process.

[Steve+Dee]

Hi

We live about 40mins out of Nelson. Most areas of the City seem pretty OK but there are some areas around the hospital which I would say are less desirable. Toi Toi is the main area that I would avoid. There seemed to be a spate of crimes reported in the local press when we first arrived and a lot of them seemed to be around that area. Not major crime but it seemed to stand out and driving around the area it does seem a bit more rundown.

Try asking the KiwiBarkers who have just been on the house search themselves and have ended up living in Atawhai, a suburb just outside Nelson itself. They probably got a reasonable feel for any 'bad' areas. Are you set on Nelson city itself as there are some nice villages around or towns like Richmond.

If there's anymore info you need don't hesitate to ask and good luck with the process.

I'll be based at Nelson hospital but will need to travel to Blenheim as and when required, we had thought of somewhere in between like Havelock but have decided on Nelson. We've looked at rentals in all the Nelson districts (Atawhai looks nice) Richmond and Stoke but a photo doesn't tell you much about the area it's self. Do you live towards Motueka?

Cheers for the help

Dee

[Tim G]

I'll be based at Nelson hospital but will need to travel to Blenheim as and when required, we had thought of somewhere in between like Havelock but have decided on Nelson. We've looked at rentals in all the Nelson districts (Atawhai looks nice) Richmond and Stoke but a photo doesn't tell you much about the area it's self. Do you live towards Motueka?

Cheers for the help

Dee

Hi Dee,

Sorry to hi jack the Nelson thread but couldn't resist. We too are looking at Nelson and are currently looking for good jobs. Don't suppose you work in theatres? I am an Anaesthetic technician looking for employment, can I ask, did you go direct to the Hospital or use an agency?

I did a 6 week visit a couple of years ago down at Christchurch hospital but also spent a long weekend at Nelson--Absolutely Beautiful.....

Thanks for any help,

Tim.

[Steve+Dee]

Hi Dee,

Sorry to hi jack the Nelson thread but couldn't resist. We too are looking at Nelson and are currently looking for good jobs. Don't suppose you work in theatres? I am an Anaesthetic technician looking for employment, can I ask, did you go direct to the Hospital or use an agency?

I did a 6 week visit a couple of years ago down at Christchurch hospital but also spent a long weekend at Nelson--Absolutely Beautiful.....

Thanks for any help,

Tim.

Hi Tim

All i did was to check on here

http://www.nmdhb.govt.nz/vacancies/circular.shtml

What you could do is get in touch via email with HR and enquire if they have any current or forthcoming vacancies. I hope this helps and good luck.

Dee

[thezorbster]

The hospital often advertises positions in the local press so I would definitely contact them and advise them of your skills.

[thezorbster]

I'll be based at Nelson hospital but will need to travel to Blenheim as and when required, we had thought of somewhere in between like Havelock but have decided on Nelson. We've looked at rentals in all the Nelson districts (Atawhai looks nice) Richmond and Stoke but a photo doesn't tell you much about the area it's self. Do you live towards Motueka?

Cheers for the help

Dee

We live a couple of k outside a tiny village called Upper Moutere which is halfway between Richmond and Motueka. Atawhai is nice and we initially considered it but decided on rural in the end as we wanted a bit of space. Stoke and Richmond are urban and really just an extension of Nelson - they probably used to be separate but with housing development they all blend together now. I would say Richmond is nicer than Stoke (we rented in Stoke for 3 weeks and I hated it but then I hate suburban sprawl). Stoke sections I would say are smaller so you are a bit more on top of your neighbours. Richmond is a bit leafier. If I was ever to move into town I'd probably head for somewhere like Atawhai or The Port Hills. If you wanted somewhere more rural but the Blenheim side of Nelson you could consider Hira - nice rural area but probably not many rentals.

[Steve+Dee]

We live a couple of k outside a tiny village called Upper Moutere which is halfway between Richmond and Motueka. Atawhai is nice and we initially considered it but decided on rural in the end as we wanted a bit of space. Stoke and Richmond are urban and really just an extension of Nelson - they probably used to be separate but with housing development they all blend together now. I would say Richmond is nicer than Stoke (we rented in Stoke for 3 weeks and I hated it but then I hate suburban sprawl). Stoke sections I would say are smaller so you are a bit more on top of your neighbours. Richmond is a bit leafier. If I was ever to move into town I'd probably head for somewhere like Atawhai or The Port Hills. If you wanted somewhere more rural but the Blenheim side of Nelson you could consider Hira - nice rural area but probably not many rentals.

We too would prefer a slightly more rural peaceful life, we certainly don't want a city lifestyle, yeah we know Nelson is a city but it's nothing like a city in the UK. We've looked at places in Atawhai and Hira and they look to be great areas. Our best bet might be to rent in Nelson then once over there look around at the other areas before deciding where to live.

[thekiwibarkers]

Hi Steve+Dee!!

As TheZorbster says, me and my wife have just moved in last Sunday to a rental property in Atawhai, just outside Nelson.... We're only 5 minutes from the centre of Nelson but we're wound a couple of bays and up a green hill with a relatively small splattering of houses and from our terrace/windows we have a beautiful view of the green hills, the sea etc..... I'm working in an office based at Nelson airport so I'm only a ten minute drive to work (Rush Hour???? What rush hour??!!!!:raebanana ) .. But, we're still close enough to pop into the shops in town/restaurants/bars etc...

We spent approx 3 weeks house hunting before finding this place and after a few days of driving around various areas we'd pretty quickly decided which bits we wanted to live/not so keen to live....

After speaking to many locals we worked out that Nelson is pretty lucky in that it doesn't have bad "areas" as such but just a few streets that would probably be best to avoid... TheZorbster's right in that the area around the Hospital isn't the nicest part of town but that's mainly because it seems to be the lower end of the wage scale people so the houses are more run down etc... We did look at a house around that area but it was very grotty and wasn't what we wanted...

We were like you in that we didn't want to live in a really built up area or just end up on a busy road with the houses close together (Which it is around the hospital) so Atawhai was perfect for us... We'd also recommend The Wood but more towards the Atawhai end or The Brook is a pretty nice area although gets cold in the winter as gets shaded by the mountains....

Stoke and Richmond for us were just too built up (although obviously not THAT built up compared to the UK but you know what I mean) and wasn't what we wanted but generally you will get better rental rates in those areas...

Please PM me if you wish and I'm happy to give you my email address if you want some rental real estate names/websites etc as I'd be happy to help....

Where TheZorbster lives is a lovely area and a lot more rural and is definitely a place where we will be considering when we look to buy......

[thekiwibarkers]

p.s. Port Hills and Brittania Heights are also great locations but the rental there is right at the top end of the rental scale ... (Out of our league unfortunately!!)....

Mapua is also a beautiful little place and is on the way heading to TheZorbster and that is pretty rural but still close to Nelson so may be worth a look. Depends how far out you want to be really....

We're of the attitude that if after the 6 months initial tenancy we decide on living in another part of Nelson then we can always move although you need to be careful when you're looking to rent as we've been told the rental property market here through the summer months is very sparse as all the people who let there homes out for 9 months of the year come back for peak season!!...

[Steve+Dee]

Hi Steve+Dee!!

As TheZorbster says, me and my wife have just moved in last Sunday to a rental property in Atawhai, just outside Nelson.... We're only 5 minutes from the centre of Nelson but we're wound a couple of bays and up a green hill with a relatively small splattering of houses and from our terrace/windows we have a beautiful view of the green hills, the sea etc..... I'm working in an office based at Nelson airport so I'm only a ten minute drive to work (Rush Hour???? What rush hour??!!!!:raebanana ) .. But, we're still close enough to pop into the shops in town/restaurants/bars etc...

We spent approx 3 weeks house hunting before finding this place and after a few days of driving around various areas we'd pretty quickly decided which bits we wanted to live/not so keen to live....

After speaking to many locals we worked out that Nelson is pretty lucky in that it doesn't have bad "areas" as such but just a few streets that would probably be best to avoid... TheZorbster's right in that the area around the Hospital isn't the nicest part of town but that's mainly because it seems to be the lower end of the wage scale people so the houses are more run down etc... We did look at a house around that area but it was very grotty and wasn't what we wanted...

We were like you in that we didn't want to live in a really built up area or just end up on a busy road with the houses close together (Which it is around the hospital) so Atawhai was perfect for us... We'd also recommend The Wood but more towards the Atawhai end or The Brook is a pretty nice area although gets cold in the winter as gets shaded by the mountains....

Stoke and Richmond for us were just too built up (although obviously not THAT built up compared to the UK but you know what I mean) and wasn't what we wanted but generally you will get better rental rates in those areas...

Please PM me if you wish and I'm happy to give you my email address if you want some rental real estate names/websites etc as I'd be happy to help....

Where TheZorbster lives is a lovely area and a lot more rural and is definitely a place where we will be considering when we look to buy......

Great reply, thanks. So far it's looking very much like Atawhai, The Brook or similar areas of Nelson but initially we may have little choice for the first week or two. We will receive some help with a temp rental through Dees employment at the hospital during which time we will be in a position to search and find something more to our liking. :nice1

[bilbo baggins]

Hi Great to hear all your comments about Nelson. It sounds fantastic and it is definately somewhere we will visit when we do a reccy early next year. I like the idea of it having the best sunshine record and also the cycling and walking on the doorstep. Anyone know how long it takes to get the nearest skiing area? Also has anyone got any info on the local hospital? I am hoping to get work as a midwife and from what I understand it is quite a small hospital which suites me fine. We will research ChCh whilst over but if anyone can offer any advice about renting we would be grateful. I am beginning to worry that it might be very hard to find somewhere comfortable which will accept a very well behaved cat and 2 not so mature adults. We are willing to pay more for the right place but from previous posts it appears to be a daunting task.

Hope to make the move next July/August so hope my O/H loves it as much as I did when I visited. Just wish I was there now and not about to leave for another day working for the NHS which my sis and i call the No Hope Society!
Love the job but not the conditions.

[thezorbster]

Hi Bilbo

Don't know much about the hospital but I do know the nearest skiing is at Rainbow skifields, about 1 1/2 hrs away. They had a stunning season last year which I hope will be repeated this year as we arrived at the end of the season last winter. It's not a huge area but should offer enough to keep the ski bug at bay. Mt Lyfford is probably next closest near Hanmer - about 4 hrs away so OK for a long weekend.

May be worth contacting the hospital direct about vacancies - they are often advertising in the local press.

I would say arriving in July/August you would hopefully not have too much problem finding a rental. There seem to be a lot advertised at the moment as it is the quiet time of year. I think some people maybe use them as holiday homes too. There are a couple of specialist letting agencies plus the estate agencies and private ads in the paper.

Good luck with your job search and let us know if there's anything else you need to know.